Anniversary Address; 



xxi< 



perial point of 



view. 



I do not propose now to give any general account of what I have seen 

 during my journeying. As, however, oue of the objects of this 

 Institute is to take note of anything that may he of permanent 

 importance to this country, I think it will not be out of place this 

 evening if, as one result of my tours by sea and land, I make some 

 remarks on the protection of the principal ports of the colony, and on 

 the general defence of New Zealand. Of course, however, it will not 

 be possible for me, in the course of an evening's address, to do more 

 than give a general view of the principal points of the question. 



The defence of New Zealand should be regarded from an Defence of 

 Imperial and an Australasian, as well as from a local point of from M?im d 

 view. 



The first line of defence of this, as of every other part of the 

 British Empire, is on the lines of maritime communication. If the 

 steamers and sailing-vessels that carry our exports and imports to 

 and fro along the ocean highways were liable to be captured or 

 destroyed by hostile ships, our commerce would be stopped. The re- 

 sult to the colonies would be disastrous. To Great Britain, it would 

 be starvation. 



The commerce of New Zealand alone is upwards of fifteen 

 millions sterling per annum, whilst that of Australasia amounts to 

 upwards of one hundred millions, about equal to that of the whole of 

 South America and Mexico combined. 



Naval squadrons are maintained by Great Britain in the British 

 Channel, in the Mediterranean, in the North American and West 

 Indian Command, in the Pacific, in China, on the East Indian 

 Station, at the Cape of Good Hope, and last, not least, in Austral- 

 asia. These are charged with the defence of British interests and 

 of the lines of British commerce throughout the world, and in case 

 of war would be largely supplemented by ships of the mercantile 

 marine which are capable of carrying guns, and are otherwise adapted 

 for warfare. 



Bases for the naval defence of the empire are maintained and 

 fortified by Great Britain, not only at Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chat- 

 ham, Sheerness, Pembroke, Portland, Cork, and other places in the 

 United Kingdom, but also at numerous places throughout the world, 

 in positions advantageous for coaling, victualling, and refitting the 

 vessels of war charged with the defence of our commerce. 



Along the line from England to New Zealand by the Cape of 

 Good Hope are the Islands of Ascension and St. Helena ; at the 

 Cape, Table Bay and Simon's Bay. On the route by the Suez Canal 

 are Gibraltar, Malta, Aden, Perim, and Ceylon ; then going between 



